Off-field festivities part of Texas Bowl trip, but players say they have 'one goal'

HOUSTON — Ron Zook has coached in four bowl games and played in three, but a Rodeo Bowl is a first for the Illinois coach.

Players were scheduled to compete in rodeo events Monday night, two days before the Illini face Baylor in the Texas Bowl. Zook understands football is accompanied by festivities at this time of year, and it's his job to strike a balance.

"They understand it's an honor and a privilege to be here," he said after practice Sunday at Rice University. "It's also a reward for all the hard work. We have curfew and those things. It goes back to making the right decisions."

One decision Zook made with athletic director Ron Guenther was waiting until Saturday night to travel to Houston.

When Illinois played in the Rose Bowl after the 2007 season, losing to USC on Jan. 1, the team arrived earlier and had plenty of time on its hands. The Illini's relatively short layoff this season — they last played Dec. 3 in a loss at Fresno State — is also beneficial, Zook said.

"The Rose Bowl (year), we stopped playing before Thanksgiving," he said. "That's a long time. That makes a big difference."

Players said they know they're in Houston for the Texas Bowl, not messing around with bulls.

"We're all down here for one goal," quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase said. "We know when the time is set up to enjoy ourselves."

Rocket men: Illinois received some extra motivation from two alumni who know about reaching for the stars.

NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins and Lee Archambault met with the team after practice. Hopkins, who played defensive back at Illinois from 1987 to '91, and Archambault, who graduated in 1982, will serve as honorary captains at the Texas Bowl.

Archambault, who was born in Oak Park and graduated from Proviso West, served as a space shuttle commander in 2009.

"It's kind of neat," Zook said. "He talked about being excited to have them here."

Good to go: Zook has expected linebacker Ian Thomas to be healed from an ankle injury and play Wednesday. Thomas, who was hurt against Fresno State, proved he was ready at practice.

"He was running out there today," Zook said. "He had a collision and got up and was fine."